Shiveluch Volcano spews ash up to nine kilometers above sea level

May 31, 2012, 15:45 UTC+3Ash could be seen from the settlement of Klyuchi located some 50 kilometers away from the volcano

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PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, May 31 (Itar-Tass) —New ejections of volcanic ash to an elevation of 7,000 meters to 9,000 meters above sea level have been registered over the crater of Kamchatka’s Shiveluch Volcano, the Kamchatka affiliation of the Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences said on Thursday.

These ejections were accompanied by quakes directly on the volcano, which continued ten to fifteen minutes. Ash could be seen from the settlement of Klyuchi located some 50 kilometers away from the volcano. Dust plumes stretched 35 kilometers south-west from the volcano. There have been no reports about ashfall in local settlements.

The volcano was put on aviation color code red. This means that strong quakes are fixed on Shiveluch, and it can spew ash over eight kilometers above the sea level. The services ensuring the safety of flights on domestic and international routes have been warned about the danger that ash and gas can pose for plane engines.

Shiveluch is the northernmost active volcano in Kamchatka. It is located some 450 kilometers to the northeast of the regional capital Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and erupts in a blast-like manner.

The surges of the Shiveluch’s activity that occurred in 1864 and 1964 were classified by scientists as disasters.

The highest point of the volcano’s active zone, also known as the Young Sheveluch, is located at 2,500 meters above sea level, and the crater has a diameter of 1.5 kilometers.

Young Shiveluch went active in September 1980 and researchers keep it under permanent surveillance.